One often hears of certain ailments that have no cure but have to just “run their course” for you to get rid of them. Such as the common cold.
What exactly are you waiting for to “run it’s course”?
Is it an immune system slowly attacking a bacterial infection?
Is there a way to ‘speed up’ this process?
If you increase your metabolism (like doing some cardio) can you decrease the time it takes for your body to rid itself of a cold?
How does time figure into the whole gig?
You’re giving your immune system time to do its work. The best thing you can do for most ailments of this type is to follow the ordinary advice that’s been given by mothers and family practitioners forever: Rest. Plenty of liquids. See a doctor if things get a lot worse, high fever, difficulty breathing, that sort of thing. “Speeding up the metabolism” via things like vigorous exercise will most likely just consume resources that your body might otherwise use to fight the bacteria or virus.
The cold is called by viruses rather than bacteria so that helps answer your question. We don’t have effective medical treatments for most viruses including things like the flu. Most viral infections just need to run their course with medical intervention, if any, consists of keeping the patient hydrated, temperature stable, etc.
Nearly any viral infection of any kind. Bad ones may need measures to keep the patient alive, or prevent pneumonia, but basically, your immune system has to work out how to deal with the bug.
The reason there is no cure for “the common cold” is that there is not a “common cold” Every time you catch a cold, you have a different virus. Your immune system will not allow you to catch the viruses you have already had.